“The first thing that the House has to do is pass a clean six-week [continuing resolution]. They have that before them,” Reid said. “If they do that, then we’ll agree to work with Republicans on funding for the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.”

Less then two hours later, the House voted to go to conference, and House Republicans named conferees.

The Senate adjourned at 12:18 a.m. with plans to come back into session at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, when U.S. financial markets are scheduled to open. The Japanese Nikkei index plunged about 160 points in the hour before the shutdown deadline but climbed back some in the following hour.

Reid said if House Republicans agree to extend government funding until Nov. 15, Senate Democrats would negotiate about funding for the rest of fiscal 2014.

Reid called the proposal to negotiate an hour before the midnight deadline when government funding expires a “subterfuge to satisfy the Tea Party-driven Republicans.”

He argued there was no reason for Senate Democrats to begin negotiations only an hour before funding expired because there would be little prospect of reaching a deal in time.

He said the better course is for Republicans to accept the Senate-passed stopgap, which lasts until Nov. 15.

Senate Democratic leaders showed little hope of averting a shutdown, speaking about it as a fait accompli.